Page 37 of Cryptic Curse

“Now,” I say, “yes, I am actually going to help with the dishes.”

Mom laughs again, shaking her head.

“Because,” I continue, “the sooner we get this table cleared, the sooner we can taste that amazing dessert you’ve been talking about.”

Daniela rises as well, despite Mom’s plea for her to remain seated.

Nice.Maybe she and I can talk a little bit in the kitchen.

Learn a little bit about each other.Vinnie’s told me that she’s very well educated in all walks of life, and I bet she has some stories to tell about her time in Colombia.

Of course, she might not want to talk too much about Colombia, given what she may have gone through over there.

At the very least, we can talk about the dessert.

The tres leches cakedoessound phenomenal.

But what I truly want for dessert—Daniela’s lips on mine, her body pressed up against me…

That’s not on the menu.

12

DANIELA

God help me, even the way Hawk picks up a plate is hot.

He stands up from the table, and I have to look away before I do something stupid like sigh out loud.He’s tall—stupidly tall—the kind of tall that makes you wonder how ceilings don’t bend for him.And those eyes?Not just blue—sharp,ice-cut, sun-over-the-ocean blue.

He flashes a half-smile.God, that smile.It’s all slow charm and unspoken trouble, framed by that raven-black hair that somehow manages to look both tousled and intentional.Like he woke up that perfect and didn’t even try.Now he’s picking up dishes, his big hands careful, the muscles in his forearms flexing just enough to make me lose track of every coherent thought I’ve ever had.

Savannah’s still chatting behind me, but I’m only half-listening.Mostly, I’m just watching Hawk move around the kitchen like he belongs there.

He catches me staring, of course.One brow lifts, and that smile deepens, like he knowsexactlywhat’s going through my head.

I grab a stack of napkins to look busy.“You’re surprisingly domestic,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

He shrugs.“Just trying to impress the right person.”

And just like that, I forget how breathing works.He’s probably talking about his mother, but…

We get all the plates scraped off and the dishwasher loaded while Star sets the table with dessert plates and coffee cups.

Savannah starts the coffee brewing.

Hawk and I move around each other like we’ve done this a hundred times—scraping plates, stacking them, sliding silverware into the basket.My fingers brush his once, and it’s like touching a live wire.

I pretend to focus on wiping the counter.

My heart is pumping wildly as we return to the dining room where Savannah fills everyone’s coffee cups and Star serves the tres leches cake.The scent of sweet cream and coffee fills the air, but all I can feel is the electricity still humming between me and Hawk.

Belinda is sitting quietly at the corner of the table, her big eyes watching everyone with that soft curiosity she always carries.She tugs gently on my sleeve as I pass her a slice of cake.

“You look…smiley,” she whispers.

I crouch down beside her for a second, whispering back, “I’m just excited to try Savannah’s cake.”

Belinda smiles shyly.“I think Hawk’s nice.He looked at you likeyou’rethe dessert.”